Softball Tabbed Second in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
1/16/2026 12:00:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Fresh off its second consecutive BIG EAST Finals appearance and its first back-to-back 30-win seasons since 2009-10, the Creighton softball team has been picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Friday, January 16.
It's the season time in Creighton's 13 years in the BIG EAST Conference that the Bluejays have been picked second, as the 2014 squad was also picked second in the Jays inaugural season in the league. It is the Bluejays highest preseason pool ranking since being the league favorites in 2019.
Creighton collected two first-place votes and earned 51 points in the poll, trailing only St. John's six first-place votes and 62 overall points. Defending BIG EAST Tournament champs Connecticut received the final first-place vote and tied Creighton with 51 points for second, just ahead of Villanova, who was tabbed fourth with 50 points.
Providence was picked to finish fifth with 32 points, while Butler came in right behind with 31 points. The bottom three teams in the pool are Seton Hall (24), DePaul (15) and Georgetown (8).
The Bluejays return 12 letterwinners, including a bulk of its 2025 starting lineup, led by Second Team All-BIG EAST selections Lily West and Kaelan Schultz. West has been a fixture in the Bluejays lineup each of the last three years and will look to take another leap after a standout junior season where she hit .339 with 64 hits, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored. She is joined by Schultz, who owned a .342 batting average with 39 hits, including seven doubles and 14 home runs last spring.
Two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ashten Pierson also returns to patrol the middle infield after another standout season where she posted a .950 fielding percentage and ranked second in the BIG EAST with 95 assists and nine double plays. Pierson will be joined by Erika Perez, who recorded a .326 batting average with 44 hits, including a team-high 11 doubles and six home runs. Senior Ella Dalton, a 2024 Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, will be patrolling the Bluejay outfield once again and will look to build upon her junior season in which she hit .265 with nine doubles, three home runs and eight stolen bases.
In the circle, the Bluejays return Brooklyn Patchen to anchor the rotation. Patchen is Creighton's only returning pitcher after leading the Bluejays with an 11-8 record in 124.0 innings pitched. She closed the 2025 season with a 4.18 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 34 total appearances. McLennan CC transfer Landrie Harris and North Texas transfer Gracie Maloney, as well as freshmen Ava Drehs and Audrey Gilman will be expected to contribute in the circle for the Bluejays this season.
Creighton opens the 2026 season at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas on Feb. 6-8, battling Central Arkansas, Sam Houston and South Dakota to begin the new campaign. The home portion of the schedule begins on March 13 when the Jays host Providence for a three-game series.
The top four finishers in the BIG EAST regular-season standings will qualify for the BIG EAST Championships presented by JEEP, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals. The BIG EAST Championships will take place on May 7-9 at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.
2026 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. John's (6) - 61
T2. Creighton (2) - 51
T2. UConn (1) - 51
4. Villanova - 50
5. Providence - 32
6. Butler - 31
7. Seton Hall - 24
8. DePaul - 15
9. Georgetown - 8
It's the season time in Creighton's 13 years in the BIG EAST Conference that the Bluejays have been picked second, as the 2014 squad was also picked second in the Jays inaugural season in the league. It is the Bluejays highest preseason pool ranking since being the league favorites in 2019.
Creighton collected two first-place votes and earned 51 points in the poll, trailing only St. John's six first-place votes and 62 overall points. Defending BIG EAST Tournament champs Connecticut received the final first-place vote and tied Creighton with 51 points for second, just ahead of Villanova, who was tabbed fourth with 50 points.
Providence was picked to finish fifth with 32 points, while Butler came in right behind with 31 points. The bottom three teams in the pool are Seton Hall (24), DePaul (15) and Georgetown (8).
The Bluejays return 12 letterwinners, including a bulk of its 2025 starting lineup, led by Second Team All-BIG EAST selections Lily West and Kaelan Schultz. West has been a fixture in the Bluejays lineup each of the last three years and will look to take another leap after a standout junior season where she hit .339 with 64 hits, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored. She is joined by Schultz, who owned a .342 batting average with 39 hits, including seven doubles and 14 home runs last spring.
Two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ashten Pierson also returns to patrol the middle infield after another standout season where she posted a .950 fielding percentage and ranked second in the BIG EAST with 95 assists and nine double plays. Pierson will be joined by Erika Perez, who recorded a .326 batting average with 44 hits, including a team-high 11 doubles and six home runs. Senior Ella Dalton, a 2024 Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, will be patrolling the Bluejay outfield once again and will look to build upon her junior season in which she hit .265 with nine doubles, three home runs and eight stolen bases.
In the circle, the Bluejays return Brooklyn Patchen to anchor the rotation. Patchen is Creighton's only returning pitcher after leading the Bluejays with an 11-8 record in 124.0 innings pitched. She closed the 2025 season with a 4.18 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 34 total appearances. McLennan CC transfer Landrie Harris and North Texas transfer Gracie Maloney, as well as freshmen Ava Drehs and Audrey Gilman will be expected to contribute in the circle for the Bluejays this season.
Creighton opens the 2026 season at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas on Feb. 6-8, battling Central Arkansas, Sam Houston and South Dakota to begin the new campaign. The home portion of the schedule begins on March 13 when the Jays host Providence for a three-game series.
The top four finishers in the BIG EAST regular-season standings will qualify for the BIG EAST Championships presented by JEEP, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals. The BIG EAST Championships will take place on May 7-9 at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.
2026 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. John's (6) - 61
T2. Creighton (2) - 51
T2. UConn (1) - 51
4. Villanova - 50
5. Providence - 32
6. Butler - 31
7. Seton Hall - 24
8. DePaul - 15
9. Georgetown - 8
| Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History | |||
| Year | Preseason Pick | Actual Finish | |
| 2014 | 2nd | 4th | |
| 2015 | 5th | 7th | |
| 2016 | 5th | T-5th | |
| 2017 | 5th | 6th | |
| 2018 | 5th | 2nd | |
| 2019 | 1st | 6th | |
| 2020 | 4th | N/A | |
| 2021 | 5th | 4th | |
| 2022 | 4th | 8th | |
| 2023 | 5th | T-8th | |
| 2024 | 6th | T-2nd | |
| 2025 | 4th | T-3rd | |
| 2026 | 2nd | TBD | |
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
Creighton Softball Hit-A-Thon 2025
Thursday, August 21
Creighton Baseball & Softball Fields Groundbreaking - 6/11/25
Wednesday, June 11
Creighton BET Postgame vs. St John's, 5/8/25
Thursday, May 08
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 5/4/25
Sunday, May 04
